Essex have been looking into the possibility for a number of years and Bowden says progress has been made on that front, with Kent and Middlesex also interested parties.

Bowden told BBC Essex: “In principle there is an agreement that a two-week festival of T20-type cricket could be played at the Olympic Park from 2016.

“Ourselves, Kent and Middlesex have all expressed interest in playing there.”

The Olympic Stadium will be a football venue for much of the time from 2016 when Premier League side West Ham start using it as their home ground.

The London Legacy Development Corporation is responsible for future uses of the stadium, and Bowden added: “London Legacy and the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) are very supportive of the notion of a two-week festival of cricket in the summer.”

“Where to go for a drink near Great Portland Street?” was previously met with blank expressions and shrugs for those local to the area, not anymore, thanks to the opening of The Refinery at Regent’s Place, the eighth bar and restaurant from hugely-successful group Drake & Morgan.